Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — Newspapers and Periodicals thru Carriers and Locals
5c Light Blue, Colored Border, 1865 Issue, Pelure Paper (PR1a var). Without gum as issued, well-centered with rich color, Very Fine and choice, Scott lists Nos. PR2-Pr4 on Pelure but PR1 (and PR1a) is unlisted, with 2022 P.S.A.G. and P.F. certificates, Scott value as normal PR1a
4c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q4). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 6360 selvage, brilliant color, mathematically precise centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE HIGHEST-GRADED 4-CENT PARCEL POST IN THE P.S.E. POPULATION REPORT.
With 2023 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $5,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share it.
15c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q7). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 6261 selvage, h.r. in selvage only well away from stamp, radiant color, detailed impression, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2023 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,800.00). Only two grade higher (at 98J and 100).
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Mint N.H. with bottom sheet margin, huge margins other sides capturing framelines of adjoining stamps, detailed impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 1842 3-CENT CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION -- THE FIRST ADHESIVE STAMP ISSUED IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
With 2022 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo). This is the highest grade possible. By way of comparison, the highest grade in the P.S.E. Population Report for an original gum stamp is 95. Scott value as hinged.
U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large to huge margins all around, intense impression on bright paper, perfect bold strike of vivid orange-red "U.S." in frame cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST STAMP ISSUED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, IN AUGUST 1842.
Ex Hall and "New Amsterdam". With 2001 P.F. certificate
U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (6LB1). Position 6 from upper right corner of sheet, tied by two strikes of orange-red "U.S." in frame cancel, matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Dec. 2 9 O'Clock" Type I double-line circular datestamp on folded invoice to local street address, trivial ink erosion spots in address, light fold at centerAN EXTREMELY FINE TIED EXAMPLE OF GREIG'S 3-CENT STAMP USED FOR UNITED STATES CITY DESPATCH POST CARRIER SERVICE. ONLY NINETEEN 6LB1 COVERS/FRONTS ARE RECORDED IN LYONS CENSUS, OF WHICH ONLY SEVEN FULL COVERS HAVE A POSTMARK OR CANCEL TYING THE STAMP.
In August 1842 the privately-owned City Despatch Post was bought out and re-established as the carrier department of the New York City Post Office. Stamps sold by Greig for the City Despatch Post remained valid for prepayment of carrier fees and were used months after the buyout, concurrently with the government carrier issues (6LB3 and 6LB5, primarily). The carrier stamp, 6LB1, can be distinguished from 40L1 only when cancelled with the "U.S."-designated cancel or postmark. Such examples are very rare, with 19 covers contained in the Lyons census, as well as ten off-cover stamps. Of the 19 6LB1 covers recorded by Lyons, only 15 are confirmed as genuine full covers (two are fronts or pieces, one is unconfirmed, and a fourth 6LB1 stamp is on an 1844 cover). There are eight tied examples, including one large piece and seven covers.
Lyons census no. 6 (Penny Post, Oct. 2004). Ex Pope, Dr. Kapiloff, Kuphal and "New Amsterdam". With copy of 1985 P.F. certificate.
(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Two large margins, clear at left and just touched at bottom right, rich color, fine impression, small spot at right, tied by clear strike of red "New York" dateless circle on brown cover to Henry Mathews, Union Hotel, New York City, with original enclosure: a printed invitation to "A COMPLIMENTARY BALL, FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILSEY M'GINNISS, Who was unfortunately run over by Engine 46...", the ball to be held on October 28, 1852, at Hebberd & Mathews' Union Hotel, also enclosed is an admission ticket printed on glazed card (glazing is oxidized), light creasing in cover does not affect stampVERY FINE. ONLY TWO OF THE THREE RECORDED 1851 FRANKLIN CARRIER COVERS FROM NEW YORK CITY ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. AN IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE RARITY.
Although New York City received the largest number of Franklin Carrier stamps (250,000), they were withheld from use until May 1852, allegedly due to a dispute over "discounting" the sale price (based on Travers papers). Therefore, Franklin Carrier covers from New York City are much rarer than covers from Philadelphia. The Franklin Carrier cover census by Dr. Vernon R. Morris, Jr. (Chronicle 229, February 2011) is the latest and most up-to-date published census. It contains only three Franklin Carrier covers accepted as genuine uses from New York City (two in private hands):
1) Undated buff cover to John J. Latting, 85 Fulton St., tied by red "New York" circle, ex Chase, Miller Collection, The New York Public Library
2) Sep. 15, 1852 folded letter to David Sands, 141 William St., tied by red New York circle, ex Caspary, Middendorf, currently in Mazza collection
3) Oct. 28, 1852 cover to Henry Mathews, Union Hotel, ex Seybold, Golden and Bailar, the cover offered here
The enclosed invitation identifies the addressee, Henry Mathews, as co-proprietor of the Union Hotel at 22nd Street and Third Avenue, where the Complimentary Ball was to be held in memory of Wilsey McGinness, who "was unfortunately run over by Engine 46."
Morris census no. 17. Ex Seybold, Golden and Bailar. Signed Bloch. With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott value $30,000.00.
Bentley's Dispatch, New York N.Y., (unstated value) Gold (10L2). Large margins, lightly inked but clearly impressed "Paid" cancel, small scuff in enamel surface at topEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE BENTLEY'S 10L2 STAMP WITH "PAID" CANCEL. ONLY SIX OF THE SEVEN RECORDED STAMPS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Ex Schwartz, "D.K.", Kuphal and Gorham. With 2009 and 2012 P.F. certificates.
Bentley's Dispatch, New York N.Y., (unstated value) Gold (10L2). Clear to ample margins except touched at upper right corner, faint "Paid" cancel and pen stroke, small thin spotFINE APPEARANCE AND AN EXTREMELY RARE STAMP. ONLY SIX OF THE SEVEN KNOWN EXAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Ex Kane, Boker, Richardson, Golden and Born. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
Menant & Co. Express Post, New Orleans La., 2c Dark Red (104L1). Unused (no gum), large margins all around, small thin and light creases, faint soilingVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FIVE EXAMPLES OF THE MENANT & CO. LOCAL POST STAMP AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. A GREAT PHILATELIC RARITY.
According to The Great Mail, Menant & Co.'s Express Post commenced operations in 1853 at 21 Conti Street and were still in business as late as 1856, although at a different address, 118 Exchange Place, near the post office.
The six examples of 104L1 in our records (all unused) are: 1) ex Souren and Hall, illustrated in The Great Mail (p. 133), the stamp offered here; 2) ex Middendorf, faults including hole at top right; 3) ex Caspary, thin and pinhole; 4) ex Kuphal and from our 1999 Rarities sale, vertical crease; 5) the copy in the British Library, Tapling Collection; and 6) nicked at top, crease and soiling, not previously recorded (Sale 1230, lot 943).
Ex Souren and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate.